Masonry cutter



May 11, 1948.

E. P. SANDERS MASONRY CUTTER Filed Nov. 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

lAn/Ezvr-ax EUGENE P. SANDERS May 11, 1948. E. P. SANDERS 2,441,535

MASONRY CUTTER Filed Nov. 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K i r '/NVEM7O/? FlG.-5. 4 v EUGENE P. SANDERS B /Zv[}i L,/2

147- TORIVE Y Patented May 11, 1948 MASONRY CUTTER Eugene P. Sanders,Allendale, N. J assigno'r to Champion Manufacturing 00., St. Louis, Mo.,

a corporation of Missouri Application November 15, 1946, Serial No.710,097

7 Claims. (01. 125-13) 1 This invention relates to machines of therotary 1 cutter type and particularly to machines for cutting masonryblocks, ceramics and the like.

An important object of the present invention is greatly to simplify andimprove upon the construction and operation of machines of the rotarycutter type whereby the cutting of masonry and ceramic blocks or thelike may be accomplished more economically and with accuracy andconvenience.

It is an object also to provide a machine of the above character inwhich the rotary cutter and mounting means therefor is capable of arange of positional adjustment for accommodating various sizes ofmasonry or ceramic objects to be cut, and in which the rotary cutter ismounted or otherwise arranged for yielding or floating movement relativeto its mounting means during cutting operation to compensate forvariations in feed and cutting loads.

Another object of the invention is to be found in the construction andarrangement of a machine for cutting masonry or ceramic objects in whicha cutter operating power head. assembly is mounted for movementindependently of the rotary cutter mounting means andin a manner tomaintain its operative driving connection therewith throughout the rangeof adjustment of the latter.

Other objects of this invention are to be found in the simplifiedarrangement and low cost construction of a machine of the presentcharacter rendering the same conveniently collapsible for quick and easypackaging as a unit, in the provision of means for reducing orsuppressing the objectionable dissemination of dust and particlesusually produced in the cutting operation as by the provision of afiuid'circulated medium which is directed into the zone of action of thecutter and is thereafter collected for recirculation, and in thearrangement and use'of the fluid collector as a guideway for thesupportof a carriage'assembly upon which the masonry or ceramic objects areplaced for cutting thereof.

The foregoing objects as well as many advantages of the present machinewillbe more specificallypointed out in the following detaileddescription relating to a presently preferred embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig-1is'an assembly view, in side elevation of the rotary cutter typemachine;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the machine in its collapsedcondition ready for unitary packa in e Fig. 3 is a top plan view of themachine shown in Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 4 is an enlarged and fragmentary sectional elevationalview taken atline 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a further sectional elevational view of the machine taken atline 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view taken at line 6 '-6 in Fig. 1. V

In the drawing and particularly Figs. 1 and 3 thereof,.the improvedmachine may be seen to include. a table-like supporting structure I forapower head'8, a cutter head 9 and a carriage l0 upon which the ceramicor masonry block A or other object. to be cut is placed.

More speciflcally,.the supporting structure 1 (Fig. 1) is constituted ofa shallow, open top tank H, at each of the corners of which a leg memberI2 is suitably pivotally connected. The longitudinally spaced pairs oflegs at each side are rigidly braced against collapsing movement bysuitable angularlydirected bracing elements l3 pivoted to the legs andreleasably attached in pairs to the side wall of the tank I l at acommon securing element I 4. This arrangement readily permits the tablestructure to be collapsed, as shown in Fig. 2. as the'legs l2, uponrelease of bracing elements from means l4, may be pivoted to an invertedor upright position and again secured by attachment of the bracingelements at means I4. As viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the left hand pair ofleg elements l2 carry therebetween a curved plate I 5 which, in theposition for packaging of the machine, is moved in to position to act asa protective shield for the power head 8. By preference the shallow tankII is arranged to have its longitudinal side walls, act as meansdefining a guide way for the article supporting carriage l0, and inwhich the upper edges [6 of the sidewalls are engaged by carriagerollers l1 suitably-mounted on the carriage platform I8. This platformis provided with a stop plate I 9 at the 'front, transverse marginthereof to engage the objector block A and effect movement thereof withthe platform.

The table structure I is provided with laterally spaced andupstandingpedestal members 20 suit: ably formed, of .sheet metal and rigidlysecured to. the tank side walls near the rear end wall 2| thereof, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5. Each such member 20 is notched at 22 inits upper end for the operative support of a shaft 23 extendingtherebetween. This shaft is freely bearinged in each notch. 22 andcarries at one end a fixed and depending sector plate 24 which isadapted to move close to the inner surface of raised toan arcuate pathabo'ut the-fixed shaft and relative to the cutting head,; whereby toloosen the drive belt 62, as for belt changing purposes, but itsdownward movement is limited by engagement with the" end of the belttension adjustment bolt 64, the weight of the motor mounting assembly ofcourse, maintainingthe belt under tension. It will app ar that theweight of the motor acting on one side of the shaft 23 tends tocounterbalance the weight of the cutting head on the opposite side; h

The present machine is also suitably provided with a fluid spray systemfor bathing the cutter disc to suppress dust. This system includes a,fluid circulating pump I59 (Fig.1) suitably mounted on tank wall 2| andoperated by an extensible belt 70 from a drive pulley 'Il mountedgon theshaft SI of motor 51 (Figs. 1 and 5). The pump has its suction pipe 12directed into the tank I I, while the delivery conduit 13 extendsupwardly and over the pedestal assembly for connection with a flowdivider fitting M (Fig. 3) such that fluid pumped thereto will flowthrough each of the lateral feed lines 15 and 16 to suitable spray head(not shown) positioned internally of the cutter disc housing 39 and ateach side of the cutter disc. The fluid leaving the cutter disc runsover the carriage l0 and is collected in the tank II for return to thepump suction'pipelZv and re-use. When desired the fluid may be'drainedfrom the tank H through a bottom drain fitting 11 (Fig. 1). Inconjunction with the above described fluid circulating system themachine is provided with a splash guard 18 at the" rear'of the tank I land an overhanging guard 19, at one side of the upper end of the armstructure 34 (Figs. 3 and 5).

In view of the above detailed description, the operation of the presentmachine should now be apparent. However, for purposes of completenessthe operation is described as follows:

Initially, the cutting head is adjusted to set the cutter disc for thedesired depth of cut, and this involves an angular adjustment of shaft23. Thereafter the shaft 23 is immobilized by means of the clampingassembly identified with clamp handle 21 so that any angular movement ofthe cutting head will be relative to the shaft. relative movement of thecutting head in a direction to raise the same is opposed by spring 49,and the range of relative movement is limited by the setting of the stopnut 54 by knob 53. When using certain types of cutting discs anon-yieldable mounting is preferred, in which event the stop nut 54 isdrawn up tightly against portion 32 of arm 3!). The more usual practice,however, is to set the clamping knob 53 to allow for upward displacementof the cutting head, and to adjust spring 49 by knob 48 to place thespring under initial compression. The degree of initial spring forcedetermines the yieldability of the cutting head, and the proper settingof this factor will depend upon the density of the material to be out.

As the masonry block or other object to be cut Such is fed into therotating disc 42, the latter tends to ride up the object, but suchmovement is opposed by the spring 49. By alternately pressing the objecttoward the blade 42 then relaxing the forward pressure, the blademoves'in'an oscillating fashion up and down in the cut groove until thecut is completed. This has proved to be a very efllcient and effectivecutting action.

While the present embodiment is that .of'a preferred machine, it shouldbe understood that modifications, rearrangements and possible variantsmay be suggested after a full understanding of this disclosure and it isthe aim to cover all such variants and equivalent structures within thescope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a frame structure defining aguide-way, a work supporting and feeding carriage movably mounted onsaid guide-way, a rotary cutter, an operating arm for said'rotary cutterenablingpositionment of the latter in the path of movement of the workon said carriage, meansfor mounting said op erating arm on said framefor selective positionment thereof relative to the work on saidcarriage, a power head mounted on said frame and operatively connectedwith said rotary cutter, said power head being arranged to move,independently of said'operating arm to maintain its connection with saidrotary cutter relative to selected positions of said operating arm, andmeans affording a resilient connection between said operating arm andmounting means therefor, whereby said operating arm during work cuttingoperation of said rotary cutter may have a relative floating movement tocompensate for work feed variations and variations in cutting loads.

2. In a machine of the character described, a. frame structure defininga guide-way, a work supporting and feeding carriage movable over theguide-way, a cutter, an'operating arm for said cutter enablingpositionment of the latter in the' path of work feeding movement of saidcarriage, means for mounting said operating arm on said frame forselective positionment relative to the work on said carriage, a powerhead carried on said frame and operatively connected with said cutter,said power head being arranged for movement independently of saidoperating arm to maintain its connection with said cutter relative toselected positions of said operating arm, means for releasably securingsaidmounting means for the operating arm in a selected position, andmeans affording a floating connection between said operating arm andmounting means therefor, whereby during operation of said cutter, thesame may move in a direction to compensate for work feed variations andvariations in cutting loads.

3. In a machine for cutting ceramic or masonry objects, a frame defininga guide-way, an object supporting and. feeding carriage movable alongthe guide-way, a pedestal assembly on said frame, a shaft rotativelybearinged in said pedestal assembly, means for selectively fixing itsposition of rotative displacement, arm means fixed on said shaft to movetherewith, a cutter, means operacutter"dnringamovementaofetherlattemwhenin-Lope erationa 4a. Inamachinerfomcuttingceramiolor masonryobjectsgarirameedefiningg a guide-way, an; object supper-ting and feeding carri-agemovable along thevgnideeway; a pedestal assembly on saidframe; a-qshait.rotativembearinged in: said;pedesta1 assembly,meanssfon'selectivelgn-fixing itstposi-tionof?rotative.:displaxzem631117,,aacutter mean-sto-support-said-lcutteriomsaidzshait for movement relativeethereto a zpower; headconnected .tcrsaid .cutterrande: havingg suppostaom said-"shaft: for. move-v mentrrelative thereto; and zmeans movable with said shaft: and; havingaaconnectionwithusaid cutter supporting means,- for, determining,v upondisplacement of said shaft, an initial se1ected .p0 sitiom of said;cutter: inathe. path; of, feed of an Obj @0131 oa said -.carriage,, saidconnections. between said, last-.meansrand-n-the cutter,supportingimeans being ofaa ,character toipermitailimited floatingmovementlofsaid ,cuttervtoscoxnpensate. the. latter for;variationsminlieed cuttingloads. v of the obiecton saidcanriagea5.=.Inl.a machine asrsetionthtin claim/1,..and'in which.. saidconnectionbetween said lasts-means andu then cutter. supporting means is of, a,resilient charactertopermitja li'mitedflfloating movement. of. saidcutter supporting .means and cutter. to com pensate for excessive ratesor feed of theuobjecti ornsaid'" carriage. and, for variations incuttingloads.

6. Ina machine for-cutting ceramic or masonry obiects, ,amframehavingasguide-way, an objectsupporting. and .feding,,-carriage movable alongthe gnide..-way,,a pedestallassemblyon saidframe, a shaft ,rotativelybearinged .in said pedestal as.- sembly, avclamping meanspforselectivelyfixing its positionof Irotative displacement ,1 a cutter, meansto'isupportsaid; cutter onsaidshaft for move:- ment relativethereto;,aniarm fixed. on said shaft and resiliently, connected, with saidcutter sup? porting means to permit a limited degree :of movementrof.th'e latter relative to the selected fixed position .of saidishaft;,means for adjusting said resilient connection-to. alter therd'egreer ofmovement afforded ithereb'y. and a cutter operating 10 Videspacedbearings; at shaft' rotatably mounted in ..the pedestal bearingsacutter,- means; operatively mounting; said'vcutter on: said shaft inwork cutting relationwith said; carriage andafor movement relative.to-saidrshafm ,a powerhead inde-l pendently movably mounted on said-.shaft. and

operatively connected with said". cutter, movementofsaid cuttermounting" means being; at-. tended by, movementofsaid power head-imamanner .maintain-ing the cutteroperating; con! nection therebetweemranannmembenv fixedwon said shaft, first means adaptedito connect said armmember andcutterl mounting means for limited: relative movement, second:means of resilientflcharacter afiordinge a: connection between said arm:member? and cutter'mounting meansfor normally maintaining the= sameagainst relative.- movement, and. clamp means adaptedlto fix said:shaftagainst rotation and determine the positionz of said fixed armemember;

said, first and second: connecting means-being arranged to determinethe'initial position ct said cutter mountingvmean-saand provide for"floating movement thereof relative to: said. fixed arm member and. shaftto .;compensate for workieed variations and- Variations incuttirag-loads.

EUGENE R. SANDERS; A

REFERENCES. CITED Thefollowing-references are of record imthe 40 file ofthis patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date:

2,171,024 Coates; Aug; 2.931939 2,247,183 Bour June:'2!1-;c1941

